University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

University Hospitals Health System, Inc.

University Hospitals Health Systems, Inc.

Lee E Ponsky

Dean J Secrest

Provided is a ureteral stent including a bladder portion positioned in a bladder of a patient, a kidney portion positioned in a kidney and ureteral passageway of the patient, and one or more tethers coupling the bladder portion to the kidney portion. The ureteral stent allows urine to pass around a blockage, and allows a ureter orifice connecting the ureteral passageway to the bladder to move between a compressed state and an uncompressed state to prevent or minimize urinary reflux, flank pain, blood in the urine, etc., while allowing the bladder portion to move freely in the bladder to prevent the bladder portion from irritating the trigone muscle.

Ureteral stent for placement in a kidney and bladder

Provided is a ureteral stent for placement in a bladder, a kidney and a ureteral passageway connecting the bladder and the kidney. The ureteral stent includes a solid bladder portion free of a lumen positionable in the bladder, a tubular kidney portion positionable in the kidney and the ureteral passageway, and a tether connecting the bladder portion and the ureter portion to allow the bladder portion to float in the bladder and to allow a ureter orifice connecting the ureteral passageway to the bladder to move between a compressed state and an uncompressed state. By not having a lumen, the solid bladder portion allows the bladder to have a smaller diameter while maintaining a necessary uncoil force. The smaller diameter also allows the bladder portion to be inserted into a scope alongside a pusher tube, thereby avoiding loading the bladder portion onto a guidewire.

An accessory device introduction system works in conjunction with an endoscope and enables more than one accessory device to be used at the same time. The system has a plurality of channels which only expand to accommodate said accessory device(s) when introduced. The system further includes an attachment assembly which connects securely to the endoscope by means of a compression friction fit between the endoscope and itself. The attachment assembly also provides at least one accessory port to be presented to an end user to enable the end user to pass an accessory device within said accessory port and channel. The system further includes a multi-channeled endoscope shaft sheath which is connected to the attachment assembly at one end and the distal end of the endoscope shaft at the other end, thereby covering an entire outer shaft diameter length. The shaft sheath has a plurality of channels which correspond to those of the attachment assembly.

Accessory medical device introduction apparatus for endoscopes

Provided is a ureteral stent (=50) including a bladder portion (=52) positioned in a bladder of a patient, a kidney portion (=54) positioned in a kidney and ureteral passageway of the patient, and one or more tethers (=56) coupling the bladder portion to the kidney portion. The ureteral stent allows urine to pass around a blockage, and allows a ureter orifice connecting the ureteral passageway to the bladder to move between a compressed state and an uncompressed state to prevent or minimize urinary reflux, flank pain, blood in the urine, etc., while allowing the bladder portion to move freely in the bladder to prevent the bladder portion from irritating the trigone muscle.

Provided is a stent pusher assembly for positioning a ureteral stent, the stent pusher assembly having an inner and outer stent pusher. The stent pusher assembly positions the ureteral stent in a patient's kidney and bladder without a bladder fixing portion of the stent entering a ureteral passage-way, thereby minimizing irritation to the patient.

Stent pusher assembly

Provided is a ureteral stent (=) including a bladder portion (=) positioned in a bladder of a patient, a kidney portion (=) positioned in a kidney and ureteral passageway of the patient, and one or more tethers (=) coupling the bladder portion to the kidney portion. The ureteral stent allows urine to pass around a blockage, and allows a ureter orifice connecting the ureteral passageway to the bladder to move between a compressed state and an uncompressed state to prevent or minimize urinary reflux, flank pain, blood in the urine, etc., while allowing the bladder portion to move freely in the bladder to prevent the bladder portion from irritating the trigone muscle.

Growing community of inventors

Moreland Hills, OH, United States of America

Lee E Ponsky